Record Status This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database. Citation Medical Services Advisory Committee. RAS (Kirsten RAS and Neuroblastoma RAS) mutation testing for eligibility for panitumumab treatment in previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Canberra: Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). MSAC application 1363. 2014 Authors' objectives The RAS mutation test is a combination of genetic tests, conducted on a biopsy sample, to tell whether a tumour carries a RAS mutation(s). KRAS and NRAS are highly related members of the RAS oncogene family which have an important role in the development and continued growth of colorectal cancer. The KRAS gene is found to be mutated, or changed, in about 40% of people with colorectal cancer. The NRAS gene is found to be mutated in an additional 10-15% of patients. The other ~50% of people have a non-mutated (sometimes called "wild type") RAS genes.
Widespread colorectal cancer is treated with chemotherapy and patients may receive several sequential courses of different types of chemotherapy as the disease progresses. For patients with widespread disease the prognosis is poor with only 10% of patients still alive 5 years after diagnosis. Indexing Status Subject indexing assigned by CRD MeSH Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antineoplastic Agents; Colorectal Neoplasmss; ras Proteins Language Published English Country of organisation Australia English summary An English language summary is available. Address for correspondence MDP 106, GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA Email: msac.secretariat@health.gov.au AccessionNumber 32015000451 Date abstract record published 07/04/2015 |